Right-hander Max Kranick spent the 2026 season in the Washington Nationals organization as he worked his way back from flexor tendon surgery in July of 2025 while with the Mets. The results weren’t there but the Phillies are hoping that he will be better in 2027 and have signed him to a split contract for the majors and minors. Kranick will have the opportunity to work as a starter and will be a non-roster invitee to spring training.
Last season he pitched at three different minor league levels and worked 16.2 innings with a 4.32 ERA and a 21.1-percent strikeout rate. In the majors he struggled with his command and walked more hitters (13) than he struck out (11) in 18.1 innings. He also allowed four home runs and posted a 9.33 ERA with the Nationals.
Kranick began his career as a starter but has primarily been a reliever since 2024. The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John Surgery during the 2022 season and made just nine minor league rehab starts covering 20.1 innings in 2023. He spent 2024 in the Mets minor league system and made eight starts and 37 relief appearances with a 4.33 ERA. The following season he made 24 relief appearances with the Mets and posted a 3.65 ERA before suffering the flexor tendon injury.
The Phillies starting rotation is pretty well set with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter. Kranick could pitch at Lehigh Valley as insurance to provide the Phillies with some depth for the starting rotation.
The Phillies minor league organization doesn’t have much depth among starting pitchers. The top pitching prospect is Gage Wood, who pitched at Low-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading last season and had a 1-5, 4.36 record in 25 starts – eight with Clearwater and 17 with Reading – and pitched 95 innings with a 1.24 WHIP and a .240 opponents against average. Wood will need more time in the minors before being ready to join the Phillies rotation.
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